Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett pleased with first half of racing season

4:21 a.m. EST, June 29, 2012|Scott Hanson, Seattle Times

AUBURN — Ron Crockett, president and founder of Emerald Downs, said the track is posting almost the same attendance and wagering numbers as last year.

And that has him very happy.

Crockett had forecast decreases because of fewer horses and fewer races, but has been pleasantly surprised with the resilience of the local industry 34 days into an 81-day meet. Crockett said the total handle average is $1.268 million, down just half a percent.

Things are going well enough that the track announced Sunday that purses for overnight races (non-stakes races) have been increased retroactively to the beginning of the meet.

"After 34 days, we have exceeded my projections for the meet, which were conservative," Crockett said. "Attendance is holding up (Crockett says it is up less than 1 percent), which is positive. I would give us a good grade."

Crockett projected that $2.5 million would be generated toward purses during the live meet, but he is now projecting that number to be $2.768 million. That led to the 5 percent increase in purses.

The number of horses remains a concern. There are fewer horses at the racetrack, with 877 at the end of last week, down about 10 percent.

The average number of horses per race is 6.59, down from last year's all-time low of 6.73.

Crockett downplayed any possible impact from Portland Meadows opening July 15, a change from previous years when the tracks have run opposite each other.

"Our daily purses average $89,000 and theirs is $36,515," Crockett said. "If someone chooses to run their horses there despite that, there's nothing more we can do.